Wakefield

The Maryland-based quartet Wakefield features Ryan Escolopio handling vocals and guitar duties alongside his brother Aaron Escolopio, who previously drummed for Good Charlotte, as well as guitarist J.D. Tennyson and bassist Mike Schoolden. By the turn of the millennium, the group had honed a distinctive, sassy fusion of pop-punk and post-grunge elements. During their high school years, Tennyson and Ryan Escolopio quickly formed a close friendship through their mutual appreciation for Slipknot, Green Day, and the Police. Influenced by their father's involvement in a cover band performing Journey and Chicago material during their childhood, the Escolopio siblings naturally pursued music themselves. Initially operating under the name Soar, Tennyson joined forces with the Escolopio brothers to perform at various events including birthday celebrations, weddings, and garage shows, where they interpreted tracks from Rage Against the Machine and the Deftones. The act later adopted the moniker Ninja Penguins to focus on original songs, leading to the formation of Wakefield just prior to completing high school and subsequently securing a recording contract with Arista. The band's first full-length album, American Made, was released in the spring of 2003. Wakefield followed up with Which Side Are You On? on the Jive label two years afterward.